Welcome to Assessment in the Early Years!


fingerpainting

Welcome to our collaborative learning site. This is a space that we will use throughout the weekend to collaborate, connect and extend our thinking about engaging and benefiting young learners through the process of a balanced assessment approach.

IBPYP Workshop Leaders

Cheryl Babin (cbabinrace@gmail.com)
Esther Croak (ecroak@psdschools.org)



Central Idea for our Workshop:

As a child wonders, explores, thinks and creates through play, the process of assessment informs the design of the learning journey.


Lines of Inquiry
  • We all have an experience of assessment, both as teachers and learners. These experiences shape our understandings and practices.
  • In a constructivist classroom assessment through observation is essential. Observation gives teachers information about the children’s understandings, interests and needs.
  • When assessments are authentic they build on students ability to make sense of the world, develop skills, shape new attitudes and understand themselves as learners.
  • Sharing information on progress and achievements with students and parents helps us design the next steps in learning together.



Required Documents





Products of our Collective Brilliance

Word Splash! Our Image of a Child
Our Image of a Child Wordle - Compiling our ideas
EXIT TICKET: Day 1 - Connect, Extend, Challenge, Free Voice!
Pondering Possibilities
Today's Meet: A collaboration space for our group
Primary Wall - A place for questions and wonderings

Our Image of a Child Wordle.jpg

Assessment Materials

PYP Sample Units of Inquiry - Early Years


Creativity Test
Example Creativity Answers


Documentation and Display: What's the Difference?

Resources to Support Engagement, Inquiry and Student-Involved Assessment












Websites We Love

The Project Approach
Making Learning Visible
Visible Thinking

Let the Children Play
National Institute for Play
National Association for the Education of Young Children - Position Statements on Assessment

Video Resources

Opening Classroom Doors - An IB support video complete with supporting documents
5-6 Year Olds: Signs and Symbols Unit of Inquiry

Galileo Video Collection

The Hundred Languages of Children
Carla Rinaldi on Documentation
Anne Davies on Classroom Assessment and Student Involvement
Sir Ken Robinson - The World We Explore
Sir Ken Robinson
TED TALK: Play is more than fun
The Marshmallow Test- Tempting Theo
Art And Handwork
PBS KIDS Lab: Let's Measure
PBS Kids Lab: Shapes in the classroom
Heidi's Horse: Developmental Stages in Drawing
Milton Glaser Draws Shakespeare


Criteria for Assessments


Teacher Criteria for an Effective Early Childhood Planner

Student and Teacher Work Samples


The Dog Project (Kindergarten)

Photos of Reggio inspired spaces

Recommended Readings


Documentation: Both Mirror and Light
The Reggio Alliance - recommended articles
Group Music Classes May Boost Empathy in Children
This American Life: Back to School
Business Week Article: What does the Marshmallow Test Actually Test?
Tumamoc Sketchbook Blog: Drawing is Thinking



Blogs

teachmama

Children's Literature

Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis
Ten Birds